Gender analysis of sweetpotato value chains: The impact of introducing orange-fleshed varieties to industrial buyers in Homa Bay and Bungoma, Kenya.

Under the auspices of the CIP‐led Scaling Up Sweetpotato through Agriculture and Nutrition project (SUSTAIN), the study reported here sought to understand how the introduction and commercialization of orange-fleshed sweetpotato has affected opportunities and constraints for smallholder sweetpotato farmers, particularly women. A social relations approach was used for the study which included surveys, in‐depth interviews, focal groups discussions, and analysis of existing data. Data collection was carried out in March 2018

Scaling up sweetpotato through agriculture and nutrition (SUSTAIN): M&E system review

The primary objectives of this monitoring and evaluation review exercise were: to assess whether the design of the SMILER forms and processes is adequate to generate reliable and quality monitoring data: this included a review of data to do spot checks on quality, consistency, and timeliness; to assess whether we have used these forms and processes consistently, and what constraints we have faced in trying to do so; to collect project managers’ views on the practicality and weaknesses of our Simple Measurement of Indicators for Learning and Evidence‐based Reporting (SMILER) system, and their recommendation for improving it; and to get project managers’ views on how to improve data handling and storage

Incentives and disincentives to investment in orange-fleshed sweetpotato - The case of a pro-poor public-private partnership in Rwanda. Technical assessment of orange-fleshed sweetpotato value chain in Rwanda.

Value chain development that involves smallholder farmers has become a key focus for donors, government and development agencies to reduce poverty. However, these value chains face various challenges, in part due to smallholders’ inability to take risks required to invest. This calls for creation of incentives to propel the development of such value chains and attract private investors. The aim of this study was to document the incentives created along the implementation pathway of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) value chain development in Rwanda. The study used qualitative data collected through key informant interviews (KIIs) among purposely selected value chain actors and gender segregated focus group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data collected as part of routine project monitoring has been used to corroborate and further explain trends reported in the qualitative data. The results show that, through pro-poor public-private partnerships in rural Rwanda, an OFSP value chain that links smallholder farmers to formal markets has been established. Various incentives that were created during development of the chain are highlighted. Challenges and possible uncertainties as value chain actors expand their operations have been identified

The impact of school nutritional campaigns on OFSP adoption and food security among smallholder farming households in Tigray region, Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, the International Potato Center (CIP) and regional partners piloted a 2-year project that promoted production and consumption of vitamin A-rich OFSP as part of diversified diets. The project adopted school-based nutritional campaigns wherein school gardens and school feeding were piloted in 11 schools between 2011 to 2013. The schools served centres for the dissemination of planting material (vines) and transfer of information on benefits of OFSP and its production practices to parents

Tracing Uganda’s global primary organic pineapple value chain

The organic sector is one of the fastest growing sectors globally. The sector provides an opportunity for developing countries to export high value products in the global market. One such opportunity for Uganda is the export of organic pineapples. The organic pineapple enterprise is relatively new, having existed for approximately 10 years. This paper traces the organic pineapple value chain, characterises and explains the functions of the actors in the chain. The study used the Global Value Chain Analysis Framework, using data obtained from 140 organic farmers, 10 exporters and 3 support institutions in Uganda. It is clear from the study that the chain is private- sector-driven, has relatively young smallholder farmers, and comprises of 10 small scale export companies. Only 45% of the organic pineapples produced by farmers reach the organic consumers. Reasons for this included limited processing capacity of exporters, competition from conventional buyers and the few local organic consumers. Other reasons were declining soil fertility, limited regulative institutional support and poor infrastructure. We recommend increased use of soil amendments, favourable legislations and investment environment, increased horizontal coordination among exporters and increasing the range of the organic export products in order to increase organic pineapple sales.Keywords: Certification, organic consumer value strea

Micro and meso-level issues affecting potato production and marketing in the tropical highlands of Sub-Saharan Africa: The known and the unknowns

This study uses ecological system theory to examine the micro and meso level factors that affect and are affected potato production in Sub-Sahara Africa. It focuses on gender, environmental factors, food security. The data and information used were collected using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study finds that gender use within the households is changing. It also finds that dwindling land sizes and soil fertility are encouraging the migration potato plots to fragile margins while increased pest and disease pressure is encouraging greater reliance on pesticide -- resulting into increased incidences of pesticide poisoning, all of which have definite effects on the environment and sustainability of potato production and agriculture in general. It concludes that farm household (micro-level) decisions on potato production are driving and being driven by the environmental/ physical (meso) level ecology. The study discusses the implications of its findings for policy and sustainability of agricultur

Effect of agriculture-nutrition education and extension services on early adoption and diffusion of biofortfied crops: The case of orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Kenya

Biofortification of crops as part of the effort to combat micronutrient deficiencies especially in developing countries gaining global recognition. Recent award of world food price to biofortification of staple crops has further energized efforts to promote the cultivation and consumption of biofortified crops. As part of the promotion efforts, some projects use intensive agriculture-nutrition education and extension to increase adoption of such crops by vulnerable households and their diffusion in local communities. This study used discrete choice regression analysis and data collected from households targeted by a project with one of the most intense agriculture-nutrition education and extension program to test the effect of such education and extension program on the adoption and diffusion of biofortfied crops. The study was conducted in western Kenya and involved 537 households with children under 5 years, a pregnant or lactating women. The study finds that intensive agriculture-nutrition education and extension programs adopted by some of the biofortification projects indeed increases the likelihood of adoption and diffusion of biofortified crops. It specifically finds that participation in events that offer practical education on the agronomy and preparation of foods from such crops, participation in mother-to-mother nutrition support platforms and nutrition-focused health talks affect adoption and diffusion of biofortified crops, but with varying degrees of importance. Among control factors, ability to conserve the planting material over dry period and household assets-endowments are important in both adoption and diffusion of biofortified crops. The paper discusses the implications of these findings

Assessment of Striga hermonthica infestation and effectiveness of current management strategies in maize-based cropping systems in eastern Uganda

Striga is a major constraint to cereal production in the tropics, particularly on soils of low fertility. Striga causes 30 to 80% cereal crop losses in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to assess farmers’ perception of level of infestation and efficacy of current management options of Striga (Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth) in maize-based cropping systems in eastern Uganda. A survey was conducted in Iganga district in eastern Uganda, involving 360 households. On the basis of the survey outputs, on-farm trials were conducted to assess the efficacy of a herbicide seed-coating technology, imazapyr herbicide resistant maize (IR-maize) variety, either as a sole crop or intercropped with soybean (Glycine max) or common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L). The study revealed that S. hermonthica caused more than 50% maize (Zea mays) yield loss and farmers were dissatisfied with the existing control practices. Farmers’ knowledge about Striga was mainly sourced from agricultural extension service providers. The on-farm trials revealed that IR-maize provided effective protection against S. hermonthica infestation. Also, intercropping Longe 6H maize variety with either soybean or common beans significantly reduced Striga infestation in farmers’ fields. Longe 6H-soybean intercropping reduced Striga infestation by 32%; while Longe 6H-common bean intercropping reduced Striga infestation by 14%. Intercropping either IR-maize or Longe 6H hybrid (farmer-preferred) with the aforementioned legumes, reduced S. hermonthica infestation (30–50%) and improved maize yield parameters (20-30%). For effective management of S. hermonthica in the maize-based cropping systems in eastern Uganda, farmers should be encouraged to adopt the improved IR-maize and intercrop farmer-preferred maize varieties with legumes in order to improve maize yields

PARTICIPATORY SELECTION OF MUNGBEAN GENOTYPES IN UGANDA

Production and utilisation of mungbean ( Vigna radiata ) in Uganda is constrained by unavailability of improved and farmer-preferred varieties. The objective of this study was to document and assess farmers\u2019 preference for mungbean using eleven introduced genotypes. We captured twenty five traits during farmer interviews out of which six traits were identified (through group discussions) as the most often used by farmers when selecting the best mungbean genotypes. The traits were; yield, overall performance, seed size, seed colour, marketability and early maturity. Nine out of eleven introduced genotypes were selected during on-farm trials using the six traits. The selected genotypes were; Filsan, Mauritius, Sunshine, VC6137B14, VC61485012, VC6153B20, KPS1, VC6173B10 and VC63724560. The selected genotypes were early maturing (60-70 days), with large green or greenish yellow seeds. However, two late maturing (80-90 days) and small seeded genotypes; Blackgram and Yellowgram were rejected by farmers despite yielding higher (1459 and 1035 kg ha-1, respectively) than other genotypes. This study showed that farmers use a combination of traits when choosing a mungbean genotype for adoption and these should be considered in mungbean improvement. Chi square tests of independence showed that there were no significant differences in genotype choices based on gender (\u3c72 = 2.5419, P-value = 0.97). However, there were significant genotype preference differences between eastern and northern regions (\u3c72 = 22.34, P< 0.01). It is possible to develop new genotypes that are acceptable to both men and women since they have no specific trait preferences.La production d\u2019haricot mungo ( Vigna radiata ) en Uganda est faible \ue0 cause du manque de vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer les pr\ue9f\ue9rences des producteurs sur les g\ue9notypes introduits du haricot mungo. Vingt cinq traits \ue9taient utilis\ue9s pendant les interviews; toutefois, l\u2019\ue9valuation de l\u2019importance de ces traits n\u2019\ue9tait pas efficace puisqu\u2019il y avait une faible discrimination parmi les personnes interrog\ue9es. De plus, l\u2019implication des producteurs dans les groupes de discussion a g\ue9n\ue9r\ue9 six traits (le rendement, la performance g\ue9n\ue9rale, la taille de la graine, la couleur de la graine, le potentiel commercial et la pr\ue9cocit\ue9 de la maturit\ue9) qu\u2019ils ont souvent utilis\ue9s dans l\u2019\ue9valuation des g\ue9notypes du haricot mungo. Durant les essais dans les champs, les producteurs ont pr\ue9f\ue9r\ue9 neuf des genotypes introduits; \ue0 savoir, Filsan, Mauritius, Sunshine, VC6137B14, VC61485012, VC6153B20, KPS1, VC6173B10 et VC63724560. Les g\ue9notypes s\ue9lectionn\ue9s \ue9taient de maturit\ue9 pr\ue9coce (60 - 70 jours); avec de grosses vertes ou verd\ue2tre graines. N\ue9anmoins, deux g\ue9notypes (gramnoir et gramjaune) \ue9taient rejet\ue9s par les producteurs malgr\ue9 leur haut rendement (1459 et 1035 kgha-1; respectivement) compar\ue9s aux autres g\ue9notypes. Gramnoir et gramjaune \ue9taient de maturit\ue9 tardive (80-90 jours); de plus petites graines noires et jaunes respectivement. Cette \ue9tude a montr\ue9 que, bien que le rendement soit un trait important, il ne constitute pas le seul crit\ue8re que les producteurs utilisent quand ils sont entrain de s\ue9lectionner les g\ue9notypes pour adoption. Les tests d\u2019ind\ue9pendance de Chi-carr\ue9 n\u2019ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 aucune diff\ue9rence significative dans le choix des g\ue9notypes bas\ue9 sur le genre (\uf72 =2,5419, P-value=0,97). N\ue9anmoins, il y avait eu de differences significatives entre les r\ue9gions de l\u2019Est et du Nord du pays sur les pr\ue9f\ue9rences des g\ue9notypes (\u3c72= 22,34, P<0,01). Il est possible de d\ue9velopper de nouveaux g\ue9notypes qui sont acceptables chez les hommes et les femmes car ils n\'ont pas de pr\ue9f\ue9rences de traits sp\ue9cifiques